Background

With 20 years of professional experience in multicultural and multinational environments, Tamás Jakus has gained significant expertise in HR business partnering and operations.

Throughout his career, he held HR management positions in Budapest and London, leading teams of various sizes at renowned companies such as Randstad, Avis, Diageo, and Novartis. Given the mission of Thermo Fisher Scientific, enabling customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer, Jakus seized the opportunity to join as an HR lead four years ago.

He currently oversees HR in multiple countries in South-East Europe beyond Hungary. As a leader, his primary objective is to create a supportive and ambitious environment that empowers individuals to express their true selves and unlock their full potential.

He emphasizes providing colleagues with opportunities for growth, advancement, and personal fulfillment. Jakus is married and lives in Szigetszentmiklós with a blue roan spaniel named Bella. He has a passion for traveling, is a big fan of heavy metal music, and has dedicated more than 25 years to the sport of boxing.

How Has The Hr Role Changed In The Years You Have Performed The Function? 

I have witnessed a significant transformation in the role of human resources from a primarily tactical and administrative function to a strategic business enabler. HR has increasingly become a partner within organizations, contributing to business planning and decision-making processes.

This shift means HR professionals are now involved in shaping company strategies, understanding business goals, and aligning HR initiatives to support these objectives. By focusing on talent management, leveraging technology, enhancing employee experience, utilizing analytics, and leading change management, HR professionals now play a critical role in driving business success and fostering a thriving organizational culture.

What Innovations Are You Introducing In Your Hr Department? 

We believe that our responsibility extends beyond our colleagues to their families, local communities, and society as a whole. In 2021, we introduced our Equal Opportunities Plan and formed a dedicated working group to facilitate the comprehensive and transparent implementation of activities throughout our organization. In the initial three-year phase, our primary focus is supporting colleagues with families, disabilities, or from abroad.

To support employees with families, we prioritize maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Some of the initiatives we have implemented include a baby care package, a dedicated maternity room in the office, child-friendly elements in our cafeteria, first aid courses for parents, summer camps, “bring your kids to work” events, Santa Claus visits, Children’s Day celebrations, and STEM programs.

We have successfully implemented part-time employment options for more than 50 colleagues, provided individualized support for those facing significant changes in their living conditions or quality of life, and offered language training through our foundation partners for individuals with disabilities.

Additionally, we have placed significant emphasis on supporting and engaging more than 150 foreign colleagues with the primary objective of facilitating their integration into our workplace. As a result, we have seen significant improvements in various aspects of our employee satisfaction survey.

These include areas such as “Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace,” “Leadership Effectiveness,” “Well-being,” and “Change Support.” Overall, we aim to continuously enhance our HR practices to create an inclusive and supportive environment where every colleague can thrive.

Are You Able To Keep Pace With Wage Demands? What Other Forms Of Compensation Do You Offer? 

Being an attractive organization involves multiple factors, including culture, engagement, career opportunities, flexibility, and, of course, remuneration. While there is growing wage demand in the labor market, it is important to avoid solely focusing on base salaries, as this can be counterproductive.

At our organization, we offer a highly competitive compensation package that goes beyond just wages. This includes a diverse range of cafeteria options, short and long-term incentive plans, contributions to pension funds, life, accident, and health insurance coverage, as well as additional benefits such as various health screening opportunities and flexible working arrangements.

Moreover, we provide an environment where our colleagues can contribute to a global mission to make a difference and enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We consistently monitor the market to identify new opportunities to enhance our offerings, ensuring that we remain aligned with industry standards and provide attractive employee benefits.

What Are The Latest Trends For HR In Hungary? 

The current trends reveal a shift towards integrating advanced technologies, addressing multi-generational workforce needs, and prioritizing inclusivity and equity.

Generative AI is transforming HR by streamlining recruitment and offering personalized employee development, enhancing overall efficiency. While it creates opportunities, it’s crucial to use it responsibly and ethically. HR must educate businesses on appropriate applications for their employee populations.

Managing a workforce spanning everyone from Baby Boomers to Gen Z presents unique challenges and opportunities. Aligning leadership styles to different generational preferences is vital. HR plays a crucial role in navigating these differences through leadership development, fostering cross-generational collaboration, and implementing customized engagement strategies. Furthermore, DE&I initiatives are central to the HR agenda.

HR professionals are tasked with creating inclusive workplace cultures that promote diversity and foster inclusion. This strategic focus builds a positive employer brand and drives innovation and creativity within the organization.

These trends illustrate how HR practices in Hungary are evolving strategically to meet the diverse needs of modern workplaces and foster inclusive, innovative environments.